Bill Shankly
Shankly is remembered most fondly though, not as a player,
but as a manager. After spells managing Carlisle, Grimsby,
Workington and Huddersfield he got the job of managing Liverpool.
While there he developed a strong youth policy and led his team
from strength to strength with victory after victory, both in the
domestic English league and in Europe. Liverpool won the league
under Shankly in 1966 and 1973, the UEFA Cup in 1973 and the FA Cup
in 1965 and 1974. He retired a hero in Tyneside, choosing Bob
Paisley to succeed him.
Bill Shankly died a few years later in his adopted home of
Liverpool in 1981. Along with Matt Busby, and fellow Scots Jock
Stein and Alex Fergusson he is regarded as one of the greatest
football managers that Britain has ever produced. He is remembered
almost as warmly for his quick wit and passion for football as he
is as a manager. One of his most quoted remarks is:
"Some people think football is a
matter of life and death. I don't like that attitude. I can assure
them it's much more serious than that". Sadly the
village of Glenbuck also died around the same time as it's most
famous son. As the industry that had created and supported many
such small communities in the South West of Scotland fell into
decline so did they, when the pits closed the families which they
supported left the area to find work elsewhere.